Covers having rfid functionality for portable electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices including a mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and wherein the trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the trigger. The system can further include a financial transaction server. Methods of using the system for conducting business or social transactions are also included.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/621,128, filed on Oct. 22, 2004, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/256,313, filed on Oct. 21, 200; and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/619,201, filed on Nov. 16, 2009; it is a continuation inpart of these application, claims priority therefrom, and incorporatesthem herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to marketing and sales toolsinvolving user interfaces on portable devices, and, more particularly,to strategic placement of radio frequency identifiers and/or radiofrequency identification devices (RFID/NFC) on, within, connected and/orintegrated with portable electronic device housings including allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device itself and/or associated software,including applications for wireless devices.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Brand strategy is the business of developing brands based on thoroughmarketing knowledge and insight. It is a physical expression of how abusiness direction and key messages will communicate and establish valueeffectively across a broad range using several mediums to enhanceawareness, impact and equity of the brand. In short increasing companies“goodwill,” which is often more valuable than the break-up value of thecompany's assets. Marketing often takes advantage of the interfacebetween a consumer and an object to create intangible value in the formof branding some business' product or service. Examples of suchinterfaces include billboards, packaging, and electronic displays (TVscreens and computer monitors). Use of such interfaces createscommercial goodwill helping businesses sell their products and/orservices.

Recently, in today's mobile information society, an unexploited andincreasingly ubiquitous consumer-object interface has arisen, namely theuse of wireless devices as an integral part of daily living. Althoughsuch devices often advertise the manufacturer of the device itself byincluding an identifying mark somewhere on the device, generally suchmarks are not interactive or functional and do not provide the end userwith any true commercial function, in our model the consumer may throughthe mark and/or audio cue, trigger, waveform, signature, command and/orvisual cue, trigger, command, signature, waveform itself interact insome way with the business, its product or services/functionality ofhis/her choice. The mark is non-functional at present. Thus, there is aneed and opportunity for functional overlays, or marks on wirelessdevices that function to induce and/or permit a consumer to interactwith a business, its product or services, i.e., to purchase, order,request information or conduct some other business-related, gaming,advertising/action and/or transaction using the user interface. RFID/NFCis defined as follows as it relates to this invention and can be presenton the case, cover, covering, encasement, overlay or wrapping or devicehousings including all connective components and/or embedded componentsor circuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software. Radio Frequency Identification Technology toinclude Active RFID/NFC, Passive RFID/NFC, and newer technologies beingdeveloped in RFID or variation(s) such as Near Field Communicationherein referred to as (RFID/NFC)(Not meant to limit scope of otheriterations of RFID such as, for example, Zigbee, RFID/NFC enabled EMV,etc. Active RFID/NFC is typically either powered or uses a transpondertype system which actively emits and/or receives in some manner. PassiveRFID/NFC technology is typically activated by reflecting a signalemitted from an external reader or electronic device. An example ofpassive RFID/NFC technology is the Speedpass™ system manufactured byTexas Instruments, Inc. and distributed by Exxon/Mobil, Inc. Newertechnologies being developed include such variations as Near FieldCommunication RFID/NFC which in its simplest form can combine advancessuch as more secure communications accomplished by in one variationtouch of one device to another. These examples are not meant to excludeany variation of RFID/NFC, but to include both past, present, and futureforms of Radio Frequency Identification technology and their variousembodiments for single and multiple purposes known at the present asRFID, Near Field Communication (ie. NFC), Contactless, Zigbee, EMVvariations, Internal Integrated Circuits and/or associated firmware,software, hardware, and/or wireless SD cards(or like), combinationsand/or variations therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system for business wirelessmobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices according to thepresent invention includes a mobile electronic communication deviceincluding a dedicated communication component and a dedicatedactivatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an applicationserver; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component areoperable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device islocated within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and whereinthe trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a businesstransaction for the good or service on the application server when thedevice detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by thetrigger, thereby providing a system for semi-automated businesstransaction for electronic handheld devices. The system may furtherinclude a financial transaction server, wherein the application serverinitiates a financial transaction on the financial transaction server.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the field or discipline after reading of the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment when considered with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cell phone according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cell phone according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a personal digital assistant according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a hybrid wireless device-personal digitalassistant according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing relationships of components of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing relationships of a systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing relationships of anotherembodiment of a system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate likeor corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in thefollowing description, it is to be understood that such terms as“forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upwardly,”“downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to beconstrued as limiting terms.

The present invention provides for a housing including all connectivecomponents and/or embedded components or circuitry internal to thedevice itself for a phone, cellular, wireless device(s) or electronicdevice such as cell phones/hybrid cell phones or personal digitalassistants, or electronic music device, such as an MP3 player, theinvention including functional keys and RFID/NFC-based devices attachedto, integrated, connected to, embedded in, removably attached whetherlocally or at a distance or integrated with the housings including allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internalto the device itself, for these electronic devices, and any combinationthereof and having the following capabilities:

The present invention further provides for a housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal/external to the device itself, the display thatcombines marks, logos or information displayed through variousmeans/printed on the functional keys and is tied to software resident onthe phone or within its memory or downloaded to the phone via wirelesscommunication or other means and that activates a functionality, serviceor points the device to a web site when a series of activatablecomponents or a single/multi-activatable component is activated and theRFID/NFC is in communication with an appropriate RFID/NFC transceiverand/or other such transceiver. Preferably, the software may be includedwith the housing or case housing including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device itself and/or associated software, such asincluded on an embedded microchip or microprocessor, downloadablesoftware, software resident on the electronic communication and/orentertainment device, software updates thereto, and combinationsthereof. The software provides for the functionality of the functionalor facilitation activation component as set forth in this description.Also, preferably, the software permits the activation components toassociate with GPS and/or Assisted GPS and/or visual/sound recognitionfor location-based services provided when the RFID/NFC-operable housingincluding any or all of its connective components including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware itself or that fully encases the electronic device is taken bythe user within a predetermined proximity of a business or machinehaving RFID/NFC transceiver capabilities or other such transceivercapabilities and is programmed for communication with the device, inparticular when activated by the user.

The present invention provides a device and method for marketing abusiness through a housing having a RFID/NFC device connected, embedded,inserted or attached thereto, wherein the housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software, or fully/partially encloses or encases a wirelessdevice and provides a user interface for the user to performtransactions with the device, the device also having strategic placementof functional branding overlaid on single/multi-function activatablecomponents of the device, as well as to a method of using the same.

The present invention provides RFID/NFC-operable housings including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware itself, for wireless devices, the housings including RFID/NFCdevices connected, embedded, inserted or attached thereto and thehousings including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software having a mark or logo or informativeidentifier, something immediately recognized by the consumer as afunctional key or functional overlay, which is operable for performing adedicated transaction when activated by the user; this will be knownfrom this point forward as the single/multi-function activatablecomponent(s).

Preferably, the case or housing including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device and/or associated software itself,includes materials that are natural, synthetic, and combinationsthereof. By way of example and not limitation, polymeric or plasticmaterial, neoprene, GORE-TEX, graphene, leather, and the like are used.Preferably, performance enhancements such as water-resistance,temperature insulative, impact resistance are used. Also, preferably,materials capable of coloration, imprinting, and other aestheticallymodifiable surfaces are used for personalization, branding, etc.

Accessory cases or housings of the prior art may already includebranding marks, such as company logos which work on the specific brandor device makers equipment; however, nowhere in the prior art exists ageneric and/or device specific housing including, but not limited to,all connective components and/or embedded components or circuitryinternal and/or external to the device and/or associated softwareitself, or case including, but not limited to, all connective componentsand/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to thedevice and/or associated software that partially and/or fully enclosesor fully encases the phone or portable communication or portableelectronic device wherein the housing or case includes RFID/NFCfunctionality included in, on, or integrated with the housing or caseincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device and/orassociated software itself which can function either dependent and/orindependently of the phone or electronic device. In one embodiment, thehousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software in and of itself serves to protect the actualhardware of the device as well as serving as a mini-billboard foradvertising and/or as a storage vessel for the RFID/NFC microchips ordownload recipient of a data chip. Importantly, it can be a protectiveencasement while at the same time having singular or dual functionalitywith also the capability of having branding that has operability orfunctionality in addition to merely being branding or advertising, whilealso the branding and/or subsidization through the mobilewallet(possibly using an RFID/NFC base) utilizing the foregoing forcustomer, carrier and/or device manufacturer payment offsets also havingthe potential of revenue generation to support the cost associated withthe functionality, usage and/or distribution elements of the wirelessdevice, RFID and/or NFC, gaming and/or associated software/hardwareincluding but not limited to development cost, sales cost, marketingcost, distribution cost of the RFID/NFC and/or single/multi-functionactivatable components and/or trigger(s)/cue(s)/waveform(s) and the like. . . Account creation in respect to the foregoing and data linkingutilizing payment methods is also envisioned. Such abilities may includegaming offsets, payment acceptance, rewards, tokens, and/or slidingreduced payment fees for voice/data/services/applications/free servicesof the foregoing or possibly free service(s) to in variations includevoice and/or data services entirely.

Also, the present invention is operable to provide RFID/NFC lotteryand/or gaming payment system for a device having the housing including,but not limited to, all connective components and/or embedded componentsor circuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware with RFID/NFC and/or functionality of the case or housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device and/orassociated software itself, according to the present invention. Forexample, a convenience store or self-serve type lottery stations (like avending machine) would be RFID/NFC-enabled so that users having thehousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software itself with RFID/NFC for the portableelectronic devices automatically purchase tickets through payment on theuser's account associated with their personal RFID/NFC on, in, embeddedwithin internal circuitry to the device and associated housing,connected to or integrated with the housing or case(including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware) for the device. Alternatively, the electronic downloading ofthe ticket information or advertising to users having theRFID/NFC-functional housings including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device and/or associated software itself or casesfor the electronic device. The operability of the RFID/NFC-enableddevice housing or case including, but not limited to, all connectivecomponents and/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/orexternal to the device and/or associated software itself can beassociated with proximity to a business or machine that isRFID/NFC-communication enabled or other such trigger enabled means asset forth, such as credit card purchases, or pre-paid debit or creditcards purchases, or other payment acceptance variations, in particularin the case of lottery ticket purchases. Branding, marketing,subsidization, distribution and/or cost offsets and utilization ofvarious trigger(s) for reinforcement of the lottery or other gamesand/or other data links and/or offers in conjunction with and/or viaRFID/NFC-operable housing or cases including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device and/or associated software itself iscapable and not meant to limit scope or utilization.

The present invention provides a housing or case including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself for cellphones/wireless devices/portable electronic devices/digitalcameras/PDAs/hybrid cell phones, or smart phones and portable musicplayers that has trigger(s) and/or RFID/NFC or Mobile Commerce componentbuilt into the case(see inclusive language for case and/or housingbelow) itself or attached through some means to the case or housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device itself.The RFID/NFC component can be either active or passive(as can be the(trigger(s)) and can include advances in current RFID/NFC technologyincluding near field communication, swipe-based systems, connectedand/or associated triggers which could be various internal/external,input/output such as used for data linking separately and/or together beit visual, and/or audio and/or use-at-a-distance. Other forms of mobilecommerce are also included such that the device becomes a functioningmobile wallet, debit or charge-based system, or identification or tokenbased system such as is used within a subway system.

Examples of systems currently in place that are operable to utilize thenew combinations, including key overlays, RFID/NFC-devices embedded in,inserted in, connected to, or integrated with housings including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware itself, trigger based system separately and/or together withthe aforesaid capabilities for the devices, and combinations thereof,associated with the present invention include, but are not limited tothe Exxon/Mobil Speedpass™ system or American Express Inc., ExpressPay™for RFID/NFC payment or Mastercard's Paypass™ system, which is beingdeveloped for commercial application by MasterCard, Inc.

Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for thepurpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and arenot intended to limit the invention thereto. FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention on wirelessdevices referred to generally with the reference numeral 1. Wirelessdevices are broad in device but for our purposes at present include cellphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and/or portable wirelesselectronic type devices, hybrids of cell phones and smartphones.Traditional telephones are known in the art and include handsets havingkeypads thereon. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the invention on a cell phone.FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention on a PDA.FIG. 4 illustrates the invention on a hybrid wireless device-PDA.

The present invention provides for strategic placement of key overlaysand/or overlay(s), in particular for wireless devices, so they aredirectly associated with a functional or facilitation component, namelya single/multi-function activatable component. Preferably, the keyoverlays and/or overlay(s) are marks such as brands, names, symbols,logos, trademarks or labels. Alternatively, the key overlays and/oroverlay(s) may also include generic words such as “buy”, “sell”, etc.

The functional or facilitation components of the wireless device formpart of the user interface between the device and the user or consumerthat is embodied in the telephone key overlay and/or (overlay(s).Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in a preferredembodiment, a housing including, but not limited to, all connectivecomponents and/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/orexternal to the device itself, having an RFID/NFC device connected,inserted or attached thereto or integrated therewith also furtherincludes a single/multi-function activatable component. Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the phone or cellular phone components may furtherinclude an electronic display 2, physical buttons 3, or otherinteractive components on wireless devices, such as a virtual keyboardor virtual buttons that are produced by projection, electronic display,capacitive touch and/or light detection means.

An activatable component to which a brand or mark has been applied isconsidered a marked or identified activatable component. More than onefunctional component may be marked or identified on a wireless device.

In the case of an electronic display 2, a key overlay may be applied byelectronic display of an electronic or digital button 4 based upon itslocation on the surface of the telephone keypad that corresponds to alocation over the phone display when the overlay is applied to thephone. An electronic display may be a touch screen. The user of thedevice interacts with the company whose mark is used as the key overlayand/or overlay(s) by activating or pressing the single/multi-functionactivatable component so marked; a business-related action and/ortransaction occurs by that activation of the single/multi-functionactivatable component by the user, e.g., a product is purchased, such asa beverage being purchased on location using equipment or from a machinethat is programmed to communicate with the wireless device. A user orconsumer may touch the electronically displayed key overlay and/oroverlay(s) to achieve some action and/or transactional end as with aphysical function button directly located on the phone orcellular/wireless device itself.

In a preferred embodiment, the RFID/NFC device associated with thehousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software itself that fully and/or partially encloses adevice when applied thereto further can include a functional key overlayand/or overlay(s) for the electronic device, wherein the RFID/NFC deviceand the functional key overlay and/or overlay(s) separately and/ortogether is pre-programmed, programmable and/or may be predetermined bythe manufacturer. The RFID/NFC and/or functional overlay separatelyand/or together may be considered dedicated to the services, products,functions associated with mark and/or trigger(s) with which it isidentified, i.e., it serves a practical marketing and advertisingfunction that provides business value to the business associated withthe branding, as well as making the housing including, but not limitedto, all connective components and/or embedded components or circuitryinternal and/or external to the device and/or associated software itselfand device operable for performing business transactions with thecompany, or operating to perform a service provided by the company, suchas security passage or authorization, user identification orauthorization for proximity or security clearance, attendance, presencewithin a predetermined proximity, or tracking of the device via the RFIDand/or NFC and/or variations including trigger(s) in the housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device and/orassociated software itself. Data linking of the housing including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software, with RFID and/or NFC variations includingtrigger(s) operability is also provided with the present invention.Alternatively, a user or consumer programs a functional component to afunctional key and/or functional overlay(s).

In a preferred embodiment, the RFID/NFC device attached to, connectedto, embedded, integrated with, or inserted in the housing including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software, and the key overlay(s) and their correspondingactivatable components may be located anywhere on the housing and thecorresponding surface of the phone or wireless device thereunderincluding areas designated for display through a variety of means and/orinteraction; the key overlay(s) may be juxtaposition physical buttonsand/or electronic and/or electronically displayed on the phone orwireless device itself. Also, there may be at least one, but preferablya multiplicity of functional key overlay(s) and related or correspondingfunctional components, i.e., individual physical buttons and/orelectronic and/or electronically displayed and/or areas designated fordisplay through a variety of means and/or interaction. Additionally oralternatively, each activatable component may have more than onefunctional key overlay associated therewith or corresponding thereto.Preferably, each single/multi-function activatable component has atleast one functional key overlay and may function at a distance and/orwithout additional user action required.

In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the functional key overlay's position relativeto the activatable component or button is represented by the arrows fromcomponent 8 indicating empty spaces or zones on a wireless device 1 thatare proximal to the activatable components but not directly on thecomponents or buttons themselves. In one preferred embodiment, as seenin FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, a functional key overlay 6 is placed on thesurface of the telephone that corresponds to a functional componentlocated on a side of the wireless device 1.

By way of example but not limitation, the following design exampleprovides a description of the application of the RFID/NFC-operablehousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software itself applied to a particular hand-heldelectronic device, namely a cellular phone. Functional components on thephone under the functional telephone key overlay include components likenumeric buttons normally found on a phone or wireless device orcomponents added to a phone or wireless device for more function optionsfor consumers. Also, the functional components may have various shapesand sizes, so long as they are sized and configured for use by the userof the device. A functional key overlay may also be placed on acomponent in electronic form or electronically displayed format forwhich a function button is not normally associated. By way of example,not limitation, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. 4, a functional keyoverlay is placed on or connected through software and/or firmware to anantenna 7 attached to wireless device 1.

A user or consumer interacts with a phone or phone-capable wirelessdevice for some interactive purpose. In a preferred embodiment,functional components on the phone or wireless device may serve numerousfunctions including dialing, connecting, starting or transacting. Thesefunctions serve to implement the consumer or user's interactive purpose,i.e., to make a business-related action and/or transaction withoutrequiring additional user action. In a preferred embodiment, a consumeror user activates, selects or presses a marked functional key overlayassociated with a component on a wireless device, such as a physicaland/or electronically displayed function button, and the deviceinteracts with the company represented by that identifier, e.g., bymaking a business action and/or transaction or purchase using a creditcard or by dialing a phone number to connect a consumer or user to apredetermined destination such as a business's information, help,service or product center, or professional services group trackingpreviously ordered product without requiring additional user action.Note that the user may provide additional information, such as a uniqueuser identifier or authorization or confirmation of the action and/ortransaction, at a subsequent level in the interaction with the company,its products and/or services, although establishing the initialinteraction with the company does not require additional user action.

Also, the present invention provides for RFID/NFC-based housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device itselfand/or associated software to be operable for secure payment for anytransaction authorized by the user from the device having the housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device and/orassociated software and RFID and/or NFC variation(s) and/or trigger(s),overlay(s) operability. Such a payment system may be integrated withSMS, MMS or other notification and/or PIN or other identificationresponse system to ensure that the transaction is properly authorized,recorded or documented and processed in such a manner to preserve useraccount and identification security. By way of example and notlimitation, the user in possession of a portable hand-held electronicdevice with the “smart” housing including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device and/or associated software itself havingRFID/NFC operability and/or functional key overlay moves into proximityof a business, location or other machine that is RFID/NFC-operablehaving receiver/transmitter or other various transceiver capabilitiesincluding sound/visual trigger and processing capability for the purposeof conducting a transaction such as product or service purchase, and theRFID/NFC-operable housing including, but not limited to, all connectivecomponents and/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/orexternal to the device and/or associated software enables the user ofthe device to process the intended transaction in a secure,user-authorized manner as set forth herein.

In another preferred embodiment, interaction with a functional componentpermits a consumer or user to facilitate actions and/or transactions,including those having an education component. These actions and/ortransactions may include the purchasing, depositing, transferring andcharging to or from another institution, or other financial transactionsor actions, including education and information-based actions. Suchactions and/or transactions may include stock market relatedtransactions such as the buying, or selling of securities relatedinstruments. Actions and/or transactions may also include the use ofgaming, gaming currency and/or tokens, credit cards, debit cards,prepaid cards, stored value cards, open loop, closed loop hybrid loop,loyalty, EMV, EMV/NFC, virtualized combinations of the aforesaid, and/orsmart cards. In one preferred embodiment, the mark of a credit cardcompany may be placed on/beneath/around or near the component orbutton(s) and when the consumer executes the component or button(electronic or other as previously described) the account of theconsumer will be debited for the purchase. In another preferredembodiment, a beverage company's logo may be placed on/beneath/around ornear the component or button(s) and the consumer purchases a beveragefrom a vending machine by pressing the component or button(s) identifiedby a mark of the beverage company. In another preferred embodiment, aconsumer's financial institution has its logo placed on/beneath/aroundor near a button(s) and the consumer may interact with his or heraccount by pressing or selecting the component or button(s). In anotherpreferred embodiment, a branded activatable component is used as an aidto facilitate discounting and other promotional and advertisingfacilities.

In another embodiment, the user's interaction with a company, and itsproducts or services via a functional component on a phone or wirelessdevice may also connect and/or trigger a consumer or user to a website,cloud based ASP service, App or portal connected to or on the Internet,from here the consumer can download a menu, from here the client couldchoose the direction to take, such as purchasing, checking accountstatus and new deals or specials. The website cloud based ASP service,App or portal may be an Internet service, chat service, on-line store,or may be a hosted ASP site and/or subsequent cloud based derivative, orany pre-determined Internet destination including B2B, and B2C. Also,activation of the functional component or button may launch anotherservice, like messaging services, such as AOL Instant Messenger providedby America On-Line, which are not website-dependent. As set forth in theforegoing, in a preferred embodiment the invention includes the optionof the user preprogramming the destinations of their choice.

In another embodiment, interaction with a functional component starts adevice such as a computer, a car, a radio, a television, or anyelectronic or mechanical device and could also include the retrieval ofdata such as lights on, and TV's off, even so far as being able toindicate or trigger an electronic-based security system of one'sdomicile.

A key aspect of this invention is any use of a marked functional keyoverlay or overlay on the RFID/NFC-operable housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software to reinforce brand consciousness or awareness in theconsumer or user. Single logo, mark, slogan or multiples may be used onthe housing including, but not limited to, all connective componentsand/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to thedevice itself and associated/or associated software and/or functionalkey overlay. The combination of the mark and the functional component aswell as the RFID/NFC, whether active or passive, facilitatesactions/business actions and/or transactions by reducing the time forthe user to implement an action and/or transaction. Transactions and/oractions are made more efficient, due to the fact that the consumer canquickly and easily scan a wireless device and immediately identify themark associated with the action and/or transaction the consumer needs toimplement or by using the RFID/NFC operability associated with thehousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceand/or associated software on the device; since housings aremanufactured for specific devices, in an alternative embodiment the typeand function of the RFID/NFC operation is determined by the type ofdevice for which the housing including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device itself and associated software will beused. In addition, the marks on the wireless device serve a marketingfunction, namely branding, independent of their relationship with thefunctional component.

Another preferred embodiment is the method of marketing a businessand/or reinforcing brand awareness through a wireless device interfaceincluding the step of applying functional key overlays and/or overlay(s)to a functional component of a wireless device. Such application may bemade strategically, as to attract the consumer to interact with thefunctional component. Strategic placement means placement of a mark insuch a manner as to attract a user or consumer to use the component thathas the mark.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing relationships of components of theinvention, namely RFID/NFC technology 12 included in the housing or caseincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device itselfand/or associated software 16; functional key overlays 13 included inthe case or housing including, but not limited to, all connectivecomponents and/or embedded components or circuitry internal and/orexternal to the device itself and/or associated software; a hybrid 14case including both RFID/NFC technology 12 and functional key overlays13; and a software layer or component 15, running on a chip within thecase including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal to the device itself andassociated software 16 interacting with all other components. Theschematic of FIG. 5 illustrates the various relationships acting incombination to form a total system, in part selectively combined, and/orseparately, as appropriate for a given application or use of the presentinvention.

More specifically, Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID/NFC)includes active RFID/NFC, passive RFID/NFC, newer technologies beingdeveloped for use with RFID/NFC, such as near field communicationRFID/NFC, and combinations thereof. Active RFID and/or variationsincluding NFC is typically either powered using a transponder-typesystem, which actively emits and/or receives a transmission or signal insome manner, or can function in a passive mode. A typical example ofactive RFID technology in use is highway toll booths. Passive RFIDand/or variations including NFC technology is typically activated by areflecting signal emitted from an external reader or electronic device.An example of passive RFID technology application is the Speedpass™system commercially manufactured by Texas Instruments, Inc. anddistributed by Exxon/Mobil, Inc. Newer technologies such as near fieldcommunication RFID/NFC, which in its simplest form is capable ofcombining secure communications wherein one device touches a seconddevice for transmission/receiving communications between them. Theforegoing is provided by way of example and not limitation, tofacilitate explanation of the present invention. Any variation orapplication of RFID and/or variations including NFC, from any period,including future developments for RFID and/or variations including NFC,Zigbee, EMV and variations of embodiments including the same for singleand multiple purposes, are intended to be included herein with thedisclosure of the present invention and adapted thereto for variousapplications, as appropriate and evident to one of ordinary skill in theart. As set forth hereinabove, the RFID and/or variations including NFCtechnology, component or device and/or integration with the case is usedto mean any incarnation of RFID/NFC technology—internal, external,and/or attached to the case or its surface, and combinations thereof.

Thus, a system for automated business transactions for electronichand-held devices according to the present invention includes: a housingincluding, but not limited to, all connective components and/or embeddedcomponents or circuitry internal and/or external to the device itselfand/or associated software for at least partially encasing an electronicmobile communications device; a radio frequency identifier (RFID/NFC)device; and a single/multi-function activatable component; wherein thedevice and RFID/NFC-enabled housing including, but not limited to, allconnective components and/or embedded components or circuitry internaland/or external to the device itself and/or associated software isoperable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device islocated within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and whereinthe single/multi-function activatable component and the RFID/NFC devicecooperate to electronically initiate a business transaction when thedevice detects activation of the single/multi-function activatablecomponent when the RFID/NFC is in communication with a RFID/NFCtransceiver.

The RFID/NFC device can be embedded in the housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software or removably attached to the housing including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware or integrated with the housing including, but not limited to,all connective components and/or embedded components or circuitryinternal and/or external to the device and/or associated software. Theelectronic mobile communications device is operable for completing abusiness transaction and/or action when inputs are detected by it toconfirm the business transaction and/or action. Thesingle/multi-function activatable component is preferably identifiedwith an identifier selected from the group consisting of brands, marks,logos, trademarks and combinations thereof. The business transactionsmay include payments for services and/or products. The transactionsand/or actions may also include gaming. The RFID/NFC device may befurther operable to identify the user as having authorization to performa predetermined function. The RFID/NFC device may be operable toidentify the user as having authorization to pass through a securitycheckpoint and/or to identify the location of the user via a trackingsystem in communication with the RFID/NFC-enabled housing including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software. The single/multi-function activatable component maybe constructed and configured to receive inputs by touch activation by auser.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a portable electronicdevice for business transactions including: a housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software; a radio frequency identifier (RFID/NFC) device; anda single/multi-function activatable component; wherein the RFID/NFCcommunicates with RFID/NFC or other transceivers, triggers, etc. whenthe device is located within a predetermined proximity of thetransceivers; and wherein an account for business transactions isactivated upon selection of the single/multi-function activatablecomponent when the RFID/NFC is in communication with a RFID/NFCtransceiver.

The RFID/NFC device can be embedded in the housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal/and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software, removably attached to the housing including, butnot limited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device and/or associatedsoftware or integrated with the housing including, but not limited to,all connective components and/or embedded components or circuitryinternal and/or external to the device and/or associated software. Theelectronic mobile communications device is operable for completing abusiness transaction when inputs are detected by it to confirm thebusiness transaction. The single/multi-function activatable component ispreferably identified with an identifier selected from the groupconsisting of brands, marks, logos, trademarks and combinations thereof.The business transactions and/or actions may include payments forservices and/or products. The transactions may also include gaming. TheRFID/NFC device may be further operable to identify the user as havingauthorization to perform a predetermined function. The RFID/NFC devicemay be operable to identify the user as having authorization to passthrough a security checkpoint and/or to identify the location of theuser via a tracking system in communication with the RFID/NFC-enabledhousing including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal and/or external to the deviceitself and/or associated software. The single/multi-function activatablecomponent may be constructed and configured to receive inputs by touchactivation by a user.

FIG. 6 shows a system according to the present invention. Theinformation & drawing representation(s) in the figures are symbolic.Actual usages may differ from symbolic arrangement of drawings andinformation actions and/or pathways. All symbolic drawing andinformation may be considered separately, together and or combined in ahybrid fashion

Structure

As shown in FIG. 6, the structures of the present invention include asystem for automated transactions for electronic hand-held devices,generally described as 100, the system 100 including: a hand-heldelectronic mobile communication device 1, the device including a housing14 including, but not limited to, all connective components and/orembedded components or circuitry internal to the device itself and/orassociated software for at least partially and/or fully encasing theelectronic mobile communications device . The housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software further including, but not limited to, a dedicatedcommunication component (DCC) 21 and a dedicated activatable component23. The dedicated activatable component 23 can be single ormultiple-function and activates the DCC. The housing including, but notlimited to, all connective components and/or embedded components orcircuitry internal and/or external to the device itself and/orassociated software may further include locators, such as GPS, RF andproximity locators 25.

The mobile communication device further includes an audio and/or visualinput/output component 24.

The system further includes a trigger(s) and/or tag(s)27 on goods and/orservices offerings 28. The trigger 27 and/or tag signals its presence oris detected or passively by the dedicated communication component.Signals can be via waveform(s), signature detection(s), cue(s), patternrecognition, IR, RF, laser, barcode, visual, audio, RFID/NFC,RFID/NFC-Zigbee (etc.), RFID/NFC-Contactless,visual/voice/audio/motion/object recognition, advertising recognition,and the like.

The system further includes an application server 3 land a transactionserver 33 . The application server hosts applications, which can includebut are not limited to transaction(s) and/or action(s) for goods andservices and information and/or data links that may or may not includein singular, multiple and/or combinations thereof: Gaming, gambling,lottery, purchases, security clearance, user identification, purchases,virtual services, virtual purchases, virtual goods, emulated and virtualcurrency, virtual NFC and/or EMV capabilities and/or variations and/orvirtualized combinations of singular or multiple examples of allspecifications and claims and drawing material, rewards, tokens, points,rebates, coupons, prizes, debit transactions, credit transactions,currency exchanges, redemption, audio/visual trigger(or see previousadjectives), monetization therein via advertising and/orinformation/data linking/and/or subsidization linked to payment and/orprepaid account possibly with the maintenance of a certain balance forsaid subsidization etc.(not limiting scope and/or definition).

The transaction server provides for transactions including: prepaid,debit, credit, redemption, stored value system(s), location basedtransaction systems, coupon, loyalty, gaming, currencies, subsidization,subsidization linked to payment and/or prepaid account possibly with themaintenance of a certain balance for said subsidization merchandising,promotion(s), advertising, lottery and/or other. These accounts and/orservers can be located in a cloud, on a server, on a device, portableand/or electronic-based device, and or input/output modificationsystem(s) and/or trigger based monetization system with or withoutadvertising capabilities etc. not limiting scope and/or definition.

Connections

The mobile device is operable for communication via the dedicatedcommunication component with the trigger and/or tag through a variety ofelectronic and/or detection means including but not limited to RFIDand/or RFID/NFC and/or transceiver(s) and/or IR and/or RF and/or Laserand/or Barcode and/or Visual and/or optical and/or display and/or audioand/or visual/voice/audio/motion/object recognition,signature(s)/waveform(s)/cue(s)/pattern recognition,RFID/NFC-Zigbee(etc.), RFID/NFC-Contactless, Recognition, AdvertisingRecognition, and/or motion activated, and/or electronic detection andthe like means when the device is located within a predeterminedproximity of the trigger and/or tag. The trigger and/or tag is incommunication via a network 35 with the application server 31. Thetrigger may also be in communication with the transaction server 33. Thededicated activatable component is in connection via the network withthe other components of the system, including the trigger and/or tag,the application server, and the transaction server and any of theaforesaid device(s) and/or capabilities. Various AI capabilities may beincorporated with such input/output capabilities and/or processes andmay act to facilitate purpose(s) with or without additional user action.

The activatable component and the trigger/tag RFID/NFC communicate toelectronically initiate a business transaction when the device detectsactivation of the activatable component when the RFID/NFC dedicatedcommunication component is in communication with a RFID/NFC trigger/tagand/or trigger/tag of other means as listed previously.

The device may further include locators, such as GPS 22, RF or proximitylocators that indicate the location of the device to a third party. Inthis manner the location of the device is known and this information canbe used by the third party without the device being in communicationwith a trigger/tag.

FIG. 7 is a virtual reality embodiment of the present invention. Thisembodiment uses a virtual display system. The virtual reality displaycan automatically display the good or service offered.

The virtual display system can be separate from base device, integratedas one device, or multiple devices working together as a one and/ormulti personal network(s).

The virtual reality embodiment includes a Display, Augmented Realityand/or Adaptive/Optics/Virtual Reality and/or Hyper Reality Environment,Retinal Projection, Projection, OLED, Graphene optimized materials, LCD,LED, HUD, Optical Display, laser projection or other means of displayingeither on the mobile electronic communication device separately,together, or combined with secondary device(s) working with each otherand/or primary device as an optical device, aid or network of singularand/or multiple devices.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the present invention includes acamera 41 and/or projector 43 and/or interactive optics/lense(s) 45and/or display(s) 46 and/or display overlay(s)/media(s) 47 eitherhardware and/or software and/or integrated circuitry in the lensmaterial and/or display, projection and/or overlay; forming an opticalsystem.

The optical system in one or more embodiments as follows formingvariations of Functional Identifiers (13) shown in FIG. 5 but able tointeract separately, together and/or combined with RFID (12), FunctionalIdentifiers (13), Case Hybrid(14), Software Layer(15) and or Case (16)and also combinable with other components. The various possiblecapabilities and/or embodiments separately and/or together are capableof interactive response between RFID, RFID-NFC, RFID-Zigbee,RFID-EMV-NFC, currencies, virtual currencies, objects, tokens,trigger(s), tags, codes, audio, visual based recognition, gesture basedrecognition and/or navigation, 2/3/4d bar codes (4d being described asan amalgamation of various identifiers together), locations,advertisements, marketing variations, merchandising recognition toinclude through various product/capability, service capability to in oneinstance create dynamic gameplay and/or offers, coupon and/orloyalty/discount offers and/or information barcodes and/or otherinteractive capable elements within the distance range of the optics andcomponents capability. The optic(s) interactivity can be used forpayment, gaming, wagering, payment, or the creation of socialinteraction. The recognition of virtual overlay and its visual elementsare connected by wireless means, recognition, touch based transfer,matching of virtual symbols tags or objects to create a function ofbusiness transaction and/or action, advertising, videoconferencing,visual identification, audio and/or waveform identification and/or gameplay and/or use without requiring additional user action. Thesetransactions may result in a purchase, location identification,directions, game play or other type of social interaction orcommunications, personal, entertainment, virtualized payment and/orhybrid realization of any or all of these elements separately, togetherand/or combined in a unique way. Furthermore, either via opt in or othermeans, it is possible that real time demographic, optical and/or eyetracking will present advertising-based feedback to a database.

Retinal activation through the optic ware or device, monitoring and/orcontrol of such devices is possible as well as speech authentication andverbal/input and/or output direction and/or audio and/or visualinteraction or audio and/or visual tag and/or trigger(s) includingtriggers that mat may occur by thought, thought control and/orbiofeedback. The device may be stand alone or have the ability to reachout to the cloud for additional on demand computing resources anddownlink of information that may have any location, information,business, service, gaming, transaction, and/or education component, datalinking/input/output function or capability.

The optics/opticware may be integrated into wearable paraphernalia,glasses, jewelry, and/or clothing and associated and may be capablethrough wireless, RFID/NFC/Zigbee of interaction in data linking,upload/download of information and action triggers stored in the cloudor inside/outside the immediate range of the wireless device for accessat a later time or for later use or immediate use.

Please note that these optics can also be considered adaptive in thatthey improve or adapt ones sight with the capability for informationoverlay augmentation for whatever purpose, additionally they may also beconsidered under other terms than virtual and/or augmented but alsodynamic overlay of information onto physical environments or acombination that can transcend into a hyper reality environment. Furtherenhancements and variations are perceived but deleted herein for thesake of readability.

An example follows: In another embodiment the mobile device may be anaudio triggered device and/or a wireless command activation deviceestablishing or interacting with an account section that may activate orreact to such elements as, a movie ticket and/or media which opens aconnection for account creation, data linking, linking to an account ormultiple accounts. This triggering may be deployed through social mediainteraction or audio command or signal and or be activated by theoptical and/or audio and/or NFC tagging or otherwise, it may also thenprovide an immediate ability to upsell, data linking, information orprovide access to privileges, pre-launches of games associated with thatmovie, radio, media, music, etc. The embodiment could also work inreverse where the game or media element launch links to the othermovies, goods, services, discounts etc. A good, product, and/or service(which could also be a descriptor for an object) has the ability throughin one instance NFC/RFID tags (but other ways such as 2d/3d/“4d”barcodes and/or audio and/or optical tag(s), trigger(s), command(s)etc.) to associate abilities, discounts, information, virtual-displayedinformation, and gaming characteristics through the mobile device orother. The account can function with the mobile device or the mobiledevice can be a conduit to the account.

Furthermore, the system can include a social media filter for filteringthe good or service offerings, such that the user does not receiveundesirable offerings. The social media provider can also provideauthentication functions for the transaction.

Thus, a system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronichand-held devices according to the present invention includes a mobileelectronic communication device including a dedicated communicationcomponent and a dedicated activatable component; a RFID/NFC transceivertrigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein thedevice and the dedicated communication component are operable forcommunication with the trigger when the device is located within apredetermined proximity of the trigger; and wherein the triggeractivates the device to electronically initiate a business transactionfor the good or service on the application server when the devicedetects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the user,thereby providing a system for semi-automated business transaction forelectronic handheld devices. The system may further include a financialtransaction server, wherein the application server initiates a financialtransaction on the financial transaction server.

A method for business wireless mobile electronic transactions forelectronic hand-held devices, the method steps including: providing asystem for wireless mobile electronic transactions, the systemincluding: mobile electronic communication device including a dedicatedcommunication component and a dedicated activatable component; aRFID/NFC transceiver trigger, a good or service, and an applicationserver; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component areoperable for communication with the trigger when the device is locatedwithin a predetermined proximity of the trigger; activating the triggerto electronically initiate a business transaction for the good orservice on the application server when the device detects activation ofthe dedicated activatable component by the user; thereby providing amethod for business transactions for electronic handheld devices.

The method may further includes the steps of providing a financialtransaction server in communication with the application server, andinitiating a financial transaction on the financial transaction server.

The method may also including the steps of providing a virtual realitydisplay for displaying the good or service, and displaying the good orservice with the virtual reality display.

The method may further including the step of filtering the good orservice offerings with a social media filter.

17. The method may further including the step of authenticating thetransaction using a social media provider.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example,new components or extensions may be added to a wireless device that maybe labeled with a functional key overlay and/or overlay(s). Also, thepresent invention may be applied to cordless communication devices, suchas traditional telephones operating with a cordless handset but with acorded base or receiver station.

All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sakeof conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of theinvention.

1. A system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices comprising: a mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and wherein the trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the user thereby providing a system for business transactions for electronic handheld devices.
 2. The system of claim 1, further including a financial transaction server, and wherein the application server initiates a financial transaction on the financial transaction server.
 3. The system of claim 1, further including business transactions selected from the group consisting of security clearance, attendance, and combinations thereof.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the business transactions are transactions selected from the group consisting of gaming, gambling, lottery purchases, virtual services, virtual purchases, virtual goods, emulated and virtual currency, virtual NFC and/or EMV capabilities and/or variations and/or virtualized combinations of singular or multiple examples of all specifications and claims and drawing material, rewards, tokens, points, rebates, coupons, prizes, debit transactions, credit transactions, currency exchanges, redemption, audio/visual trigger(or see previous adjectives), monetization therein via advertising and/or information/data linking/and/or subsidization linked to payment and/or prepaid account possibly with the maintenance of a certain balance for said subsidization and combinations thereof.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the dedicated activatable component is identified with an identifier selected from the group consisting of brands, marks, names, symbols, logos, trademarks, labels, visual triggers, sounds, music, audio, signatures, audio triggers, waveform(s), and combinations thereof.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the dedicated communication component is operable to identify the user as having authorization to perform a predetermined function.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the dedicated communication component is operable to identify the user as having authorization to pass through a security checkpoint and/or to identify the location of the user via a tracking system in communication with the RFID/NFC-enabled housing.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the dedicated activatable component is constructed and configured to receive inputs by touch activation by a user.
 9. The system of claim 1, further including a virtual reality display for displaying the good or service.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the virtual reality display is selected from the group consisting of Augmented Reality and/or Adaptive/Optics/Virtual Reality and/or Hyper Reality Environment, Retinal Projection, Projection, OLED, Graphene optimized materials, LCD, LED, HUD, Optical Display, laser projection and combinations thereof.
 11. The system of claim 1, further including a social media filter for filtering the good or service offerings.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction is authenticated and the authentication is provided by a social media provider.
 13. A method for business wireless mobile electronic transactions for electronic hand-held devices, the method steps comprising: providing a system for wireless mobile electronic transactions, the system comprising: mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a RFID/NFC transceiver trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with the trigger when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of the trigger; activating the trigger to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the user; thereby providing a method for business transactions for electronic handheld devices.
 14. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of : providing a financial transaction server in communication with the application server, and initiating a financial transaction on the financial transaction server.
 15. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of: providing a virtual reality display for displaying the good or service, and displaying the good or service with the virtual reality display.
 16. The method of claim 13, further including the step of filtering the good or service offerings with a social media filter.
 17. The method of claim 13, further including the step of authenticating the transaction using a social media provider. 